First published
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by Alex Wynick, Reporter covering Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys. Call me on 01865 425403

FOR most people, child poverty conjures up images of Oliver Twist-esque ragged children or those starving in the Third World.

But, according to the Campaign to End Child Poverty, as of February last year, 8,345 children in Oxford were living in poverty – up 28 per cent from the previous year.

This means one in four children in Oxford are not able to afford more than the basics.

And while that might be a surprising statistic for some, the problem is not easily spotted on the streets.

While some children have computer games and televisions in their bedrooms, often families that are affected cannot afford a car, go on holiday or put fresh food on the table.

For many, school lunches are their main meal of the day and their brand-name trainers are second-hand.

This “unseen” poverty is witnessed every day by Laura Wilson, who meets families who are struggling to cope with the rising cost of living.

She is the deputy manager at the Agnes Smith Advice Centre in Blackbird Leys Road at the heart of what was ranked Oxford’s most deprived estate by official figures from Oxford City Council in 2011.

She said: “People come to us when their benefits have been capped or stopped and sometimes for information about food banks.”

National child poverty figures may have gone down, but she said that more children than ever are living below the breadline in Oxford.

Ms Wilson said: “It’s not necessarily rags, but children may not have nutritious meals and they might only be able to have one meal a day.”

Blackbird Leys has one of the highest rates in the city, with 39 per cent of the estate’s children affected.

Ms Wilson said: “For most families, if they can go to work they are on a low income, and other families can’t go to work because they can’t afford the childcare.

“There are not as many jobs around as people think there are.”

She added poverty does not always live up to stereotypes of sleeping on the streets and begging for any spare change.

Katharine Thompson, author and researcher of a new report into child poverty in Oxford for children’s charity Viva, which is due out in September, said: “It is more complex than not having shoes or food on the table.

“Poverty can be very hidden. It is a bit like an iceberg – in the most severe cases it is very obvious but not so much in others.

“Some people can need help with budgeting so they can prioritise what they should be doing. “Children might have great clothes and amazing toys and big flat screen TV, but they [their parents] might be in terrible credit card debt.” Oxford City Council’s social research officer Mark Fransham said he was not surprised the number of children in poverty was going up.

Mark Fransham, Oxford City Council’s social research officer

He said: “The last Government figures for Oxford that we have are from 2011, but we have plenty of anecdotal evidence that people are struggling to buy food and meet housing costs.

“Oxford is a notoriously expensive place to live.”

He added the city’s housing situation was making the problem worse.

“We have got a lot of families living in private rented housing because there’s not enough low income housing,” he added.

The east of Oxford is particularly badly affected, with 27 per cent of children in the Oxford East constituency living in poverty, compared to 12 per cent in Oxford West and Abingdon.

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith said: “Cuts in benefits are certainly making child poverty worse, and other things are too, like wages being held down for many low-paid workers, and the very high cost of housing locally.

“It’s important to remember that many children in relative poverty are in households with people in work.

“This makes the Living Wage campaign especially relevant.”

Mark Goldring, chief executive of Cowley-based charity Oxfam, said: “These figures reveal the economic recovery is not making enough of a difference to the poorest, many of whom are facing a daily struggle to put food on the dinner table. Politicians of all parties need bolder, long-term policies that can help people move up the rungs and out of poverty.

“We have seen the unacceptable levels of poverty that exist in one of the richest countries in the world and call for politicians of all stripes to urgently address the issues that are keeping people in poverty.”

‘Our only proper meal is at Christmas’

KELLY-ANN Strange’s children – Jordan, eight, Brandon, five, Lewis, three, Camron, two, and eight-month-old Kai – are five of the hundreds of children in Oxford living in poverty.

Mrs Strange, 36, and her husband Simon are unemployed and the family survive on benefits.

She said: “We can’t afford to buy proper food. We only really eat proper meat around Christmas when my mum buys us a hamper.

“In the winter it’s a choice of putting on the heating or getting hot food.

“The cost of living has gone up so much, a milk voucher doesn’t even cover baby powdered milk.”

The Blackbird Leys Road resident said: “Things have gotten so bad since our benefits were capped, it’s been really hard on all the family.

“It means the kids can’t get any new clothes – even the oldest is wearing second-hand – and we can’t take them anywhere.

“They don’t get to go out and be social because they can’t get off this estate and they only have each other to entertain themselves.

“We haven’t been on holiday in six years. I can’t even afford to take the kids up to my mum’s in Liverpool because the trains cost too much. It’s heartbreaking. We’re sick of it.”

Earlier this year Mr Strange, 47, said the family needed more support.

Comments (9)

KELLY-ANN Strange’s children – Jordan, eight, Brandon, five, Lewis, three, Camron, two, and eight-month-old Kai – are five of the hundreds of children in Oxford living in poverty.

Mrs Strange, 36, and her husband Simon are unemployed and the family survive on benefits.

She said: “We can’t afford to buy proper food. We only really eat proper meat around Christmas when my mum buys us a hamper.

“In the winter it’s a choice of putting on the heating or getting hot food.

“The cost of living has gone up so much, a milk voucher doesn’t even cover baby powdered milk.”

The Blackbird Leys Road resident said: “Things have gotten so bad since our benefits were capped, it’s been really hard on all the family.

“It means the kids can’t get any new clothes – even the oldest is wearing second-hand – and we can’t take them anywhere.

“They don’t get to go out and be social because they can’t get off this estate and they only have each other to entertain themselves.

“We haven’t been on holiday in six years. I can’t even afford to take the kids up to my mum’s in Liverpool because the trains cost too much. It’s heartbreaking. We’re sick of it.”

Earlier this year Mr Strange, 47, said the family needed more support. "..

...Perhaps if they stopped having kids, didn't spend money on tattoos, I could go on! They're sitting on a leather sofa, the living room appears to be fairly well furnished, with vertical blinds at the windows, perhaps they should get their priorities sorted, and stop talking utter ****!

"Our only proper meal is at Christmas’
KELLY-ANN Strange’s children – Jordan, eight, Brandon, five, Lewis, three, Camron, two, and eight-month-old Kai – are five of the hundreds of children in Oxford living in poverty.
Mrs Strange, 36, and her husband Simon are unemployed and the family survive on benefits.
She said: “We can’t afford to buy proper food. We only really eat proper meat around Christmas when my mum buys us a hamper.
“In the winter it’s a choice of putting on the heating or getting hot food.
“The cost of living has gone up so much, a milk voucher doesn’t even cover baby powdered milk.”
The Blackbird Leys Road resident said: “Things have gotten so bad since our benefits were capped, it’s been really hard on all the family.
“It means the kids can’t get any new clothes – even the oldest is wearing second-hand – and we can’t take them anywhere.
“They don’t get to go out and be social because they can’t get off this estate and they only have each other to entertain themselves.
“We haven’t been on holiday in six years. I can’t even afford to take the kids up to my mum’s in Liverpool because the trains cost too much. It’s heartbreaking. We’re sick of it.”
Earlier this year Mr Strange, 47, said the family needed more support. "..
...Perhaps if they stopped having kids, didn't spend money on tattoos, I could go on! They're sitting on a leather sofa, the living room appears to be fairly well furnished, with vertical blinds at the windows, perhaps they should get their priorities sorted, and stop talking utter ****!Dilligaf2010

KELLY-ANN Strange’s children – Jordan, eight, Brandon, five, Lewis, three, Camron, two, and eight-month-old Kai – are five of the hundreds of children in Oxford living in poverty.

Mrs Strange, 36, and her husband Simon are unemployed and the family survive on benefits.

She said: “We can’t afford to buy proper food. We only really eat proper meat around Christmas when my mum buys us a hamper.

“In the winter it’s a choice of putting on the heating or getting hot food.

“The cost of living has gone up so much, a milk voucher doesn’t even cover baby powdered milk.”

The Blackbird Leys Road resident said: “Things have gotten so bad since our benefits were capped, it’s been really hard on all the family.

“It means the kids can’t get any new clothes – even the oldest is wearing second-hand – and we can’t take them anywhere.

“They don’t get to go out and be social because they can’t get off this estate and they only have each other to entertain themselves.

“We haven’t been on holiday in six years. I can’t even afford to take the kids up to my mum’s in Liverpool because the trains cost too much. It’s heartbreaking. We’re sick of it.”

Earlier this year Mr Strange, 47, said the family needed more support. "..

...Perhaps if they stopped having kids, didn't spend money on tattoos, I could go on! They're sitting on a leather sofa, the living room appears to be fairly well furnished, with vertical blinds at the windows, perhaps they should get their priorities sorted, and stop talking utter ****!

Strange, I can't see any tattoos in the photo or mentioned in the article. And perhaps the family has so many children because they are Catholics.

So maybe Dilligaf is just expressing his prejudices instead of showing any human sympathy?

[quote][p][bold]Dilligaf2010[/bold] wrote:
"Our only proper meal is at Christmas’
KELLY-ANN Strange’s children – Jordan, eight, Brandon, five, Lewis, three, Camron, two, and eight-month-old Kai – are five of the hundreds of children in Oxford living in poverty.
Mrs Strange, 36, and her husband Simon are unemployed and the family survive on benefits.
She said: “We can’t afford to buy proper food. We only really eat proper meat around Christmas when my mum buys us a hamper.
“In the winter it’s a choice of putting on the heating or getting hot food.
“The cost of living has gone up so much, a milk voucher doesn’t even cover baby powdered milk.”
The Blackbird Leys Road resident said: “Things have gotten so bad since our benefits were capped, it’s been really hard on all the family.
“It means the kids can’t get any new clothes – even the oldest is wearing second-hand – and we can’t take them anywhere.
“They don’t get to go out and be social because they can’t get off this estate and they only have each other to entertain themselves.
“We haven’t been on holiday in six years. I can’t even afford to take the kids up to my mum’s in Liverpool because the trains cost too much. It’s heartbreaking. We’re sick of it.”
Earlier this year Mr Strange, 47, said the family needed more support. "..
...Perhaps if they stopped having kids, didn't spend money on tattoos, I could go on! They're sitting on a leather sofa, the living room appears to be fairly well furnished, with vertical blinds at the windows, perhaps they should get their priorities sorted, and stop talking utter ****![/p][/quote]Strange, I can't see any tattoos in the photo or mentioned in the article. And perhaps the family has so many children because they are Catholics.
So maybe Dilligaf is just expressing his prejudices instead of showing any human sympathy?Oxonian

KELLY-ANN Strange’s children – Jordan, eight, Brandon, five, Lewis, three, Camron, two, and eight-month-old Kai – are five of the hundreds of children in Oxford living in poverty.

Mrs Strange, 36, and her husband Simon are unemployed and the family survive on benefits.

She said: “We can’t afford to buy proper food. We only really eat proper meat around Christmas when my mum buys us a hamper.

“In the winter it’s a choice of putting on the heating or getting hot food.

“The cost of living has gone up so much, a milk voucher doesn’t even cover baby powdered milk.”

The Blackbird Leys Road resident said: “Things have gotten so bad since our benefits were capped, it’s been really hard on all the family.

“It means the kids can’t get any new clothes – even the oldest is wearing second-hand – and we can’t take them anywhere.

“They don’t get to go out and be social because they can’t get off this estate and they only have each other to entertain themselves.

“We haven’t been on holiday in six years. I can’t even afford to take the kids up to my mum’s in Liverpool because the trains cost too much. It’s heartbreaking. We’re sick of it.”

Earlier this year Mr Strange, 47, said the family needed more support. "..

...Perhaps if they stopped having kids, didn't spend money on tattoos, I could go on! They're sitting on a leather sofa, the living room appears to be fairly well furnished, with vertical blinds at the windows, perhaps they should get their priorities sorted, and stop talking utter ****!

Strange, I can't see any tattoos in the photo or mentioned in the article. And perhaps the family has so many children because they are Catholics.

So maybe Dilligaf is just expressing his prejudices instead of showing any human sympathy?

Why would I be prejudice, I live on benefits myself, but I prioritise my expenditure, and am solvent.
If you're unable to see any tattoos in the photo, I urge you to get your eyes tested, Mr. Strange has one clearly visible, covering almost his entire right arm, and Mrs. Strange has one clearly visible, covering almost her entire left leg.
It doesn't matter what religion anyone is, if you can't afford to have children, don't have them. I'm all for giving benefits for a maximum of two children, that might stop people popping them out like peas, and expecting the tax payer to pay for them.
There are some families in genuine financial hardship, due to unforeseen circumstances, but there are plenty of others who are struggling because they've got themselves in so much debt buying designer clothes, massive TVs, etc., that they say they can't afford food.

[quote][p][bold]Oxonian[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Dilligaf2010[/bold] wrote:
"Our only proper meal is at Christmas’
KELLY-ANN Strange’s children – Jordan, eight, Brandon, five, Lewis, three, Camron, two, and eight-month-old Kai – are five of the hundreds of children in Oxford living in poverty.
Mrs Strange, 36, and her husband Simon are unemployed and the family survive on benefits.
She said: “We can’t afford to buy proper food. We only really eat proper meat around Christmas when my mum buys us a hamper.
“In the winter it’s a choice of putting on the heating or getting hot food.
“The cost of living has gone up so much, a milk voucher doesn’t even cover baby powdered milk.”
The Blackbird Leys Road resident said: “Things have gotten so bad since our benefits were capped, it’s been really hard on all the family.
“It means the kids can’t get any new clothes – even the oldest is wearing second-hand – and we can’t take them anywhere.
“They don’t get to go out and be social because they can’t get off this estate and they only have each other to entertain themselves.
“We haven’t been on holiday in six years. I can’t even afford to take the kids up to my mum’s in Liverpool because the trains cost too much. It’s heartbreaking. We’re sick of it.”
Earlier this year Mr Strange, 47, said the family needed more support. "..
...Perhaps if they stopped having kids, didn't spend money on tattoos, I could go on! They're sitting on a leather sofa, the living room appears to be fairly well furnished, with vertical blinds at the windows, perhaps they should get their priorities sorted, and stop talking utter ****![/p][/quote]Strange, I can't see any tattoos in the photo or mentioned in the article. And perhaps the family has so many children because they are Catholics.
So maybe Dilligaf is just expressing his prejudices instead of showing any human sympathy?[/p][/quote]Why would I be prejudice, I live on benefits myself, but I prioritise my expenditure, and am solvent.
If you're unable to see any tattoos in the photo, I urge you to get your eyes tested, Mr. Strange has one clearly visible, covering almost his entire right arm, and Mrs. Strange has one clearly visible, covering almost her entire left leg.
It doesn't matter what religion anyone is, if you can't afford to have children, don't have them. I'm all for giving benefits for a maximum of two children, that might stop people popping them out like peas, and expecting the tax payer to pay for them.
There are some families in genuine financial hardship, due to unforeseen circumstances, but there are plenty of others who are struggling because they've got themselves in so much debt buying designer clothes, massive TVs, etc., that they say they can't afford food.Dilligaf2010

I apologise that I didn't notice the tattoos. But has it occurred to you that these people might have got the tattoos ages ago - before they became poor?

It may be my poor eyesight again, but I can't see any designer clothes or massive TVs that you say are a sign of poor people behaving badly.

Still, why shouldn't you go on making wild generalisations about people you probably don't know and whose circumstances you have only a glimpse of?

I apologise that I didn't notice the tattoos. But has it occurred to you that these people might have got the tattoos ages ago - before they became poor?
It may be my poor eyesight again, but I can't see any designer clothes or massive TVs that you say are a sign of poor people behaving badly.
Still, why shouldn't you go on making wild generalisations about people you probably don't know and whose circumstances you have only a glimpse of?Oxonian

Oxonian wrote:
I apologise that I didn't notice the tattoos. But has it occurred to you that these people might have got the tattoos ages ago - before they became poor?

It may be my poor eyesight again, but I can't see any designer clothes or massive TVs that you say are a sign of poor people behaving badly.

Still, why shouldn't you go on making wild generalisations about people you probably don't know and whose circumstances you have only a glimpse of?

This family have been featured before.
I know of quite a few families that plead poverty, but the money that they get, gets spent on the wrong things. This family will be getting plenty of money, they're just after more.
They haven't had a holiday in 6 years........but they've managed to produce 4 kids in the same period......They can't afford to get on a train to Liverpool to visit her Mum, so why doesn't her Mum get on a train to visit them, it would be so much cheaper.
There are families around in far worse situations, who work all the hours available, and they probably don't get to take holidays either.
I get just over £100 a week benefits, I'm solvent, all my bills are paid monthly by direct debit, I eat healthily, and run a car.......and if I get cold, I put the heating on, because I know I have budgeted for it by spreading my bill over the year.
It's not difficult to survive, people have got to learn to buy what they need, and save for what they want........rather than buy what they want, and then complain they don't have enough money for what they need.

[quote][p][bold]Oxonian[/bold] wrote:
I apologise that I didn't notice the tattoos. But has it occurred to you that these people might have got the tattoos ages ago - before they became poor?
It may be my poor eyesight again, but I can't see any designer clothes or massive TVs that you say are a sign of poor people behaving badly.
Still, why shouldn't you go on making wild generalisations about people you probably don't know and whose circumstances you have only a glimpse of?[/p][/quote]This family have been featured before.
I know of quite a few families that plead poverty, but the money that they get, gets spent on the wrong things. This family will be getting plenty of money, they're just after more.
They haven't had a holiday in 6 years........but they've managed to produce 4 kids in the same period......They can't afford to get on a train to Liverpool to visit her Mum, so why doesn't her Mum get on a train to visit them, it would be so much cheaper.
There are families around in far worse situations, who work all the hours available, and they probably don't get to take holidays either.
I get just over £100 a week benefits, I'm solvent, all my bills are paid monthly by direct debit, I eat healthily, and run a car.......and if I get cold, I put the heating on, because I know I have budgeted for it by spreading my bill over the year.
It's not difficult to survive, people have got to learn to buy what they need, and save for what they want........rather than buy what they want, and then complain they don't have enough money for what they need.Dilligaf2010

Ah, Dilligaf, so you're taking "just over £100 a week" in benefits from the State - and managing to run a car! It sounds as if you are just like one of the "spongers" you are criticising so mercilessly.

Ah, Dilligaf, so you're taking "just over £100 a week" in benefits from the State - and managing to run a car! It sounds as if you are just like one of the "spongers" you are criticising so mercilessly.Oxonian

Oxonian wrote:
Ah, Dilligaf, so you're taking &quot;just over £100 a week" in benefits from the State - and managing to run a car! It sounds as if you are just like one of the "spongers" you are criticising so mercilessly.

Prior to having a breakdown, I was paying over £10K a year in tax and national insurance, and hadn't had a day out of work for 24 years, so.....no I'm not a sponger, I've made adequate contributions to the treasury over the years, and intend to again in the future.
I vowed years ago to never live on benefits, my mental health decided otherwise, I'm perfectly happy with what I receive, and have never asked for more........but there again, I know how to manage my money. 10 years ago, I had nothing except a suitcase full of clothes, some of which I've still got, but I've managed to get by without going into debt.....I don't smoke or drink either.
I only criticise the individuals that say they don't get enough money in benefits, because I know they're waffling.

[quote][p][bold]Oxonian[/bold] wrote:
Ah, Dilligaf, so you're taking "just over £100 a week" in benefits from the State - and managing to run a car! It sounds as if you are just like one of the "spongers" you are criticising so mercilessly.[/p][/quote]Prior to having a breakdown, I was paying over £10K a year in tax and national insurance, and hadn't had a day out of work for 24 years, so.....no I'm not a sponger, I've made adequate contributions to the treasury over the years, and intend to again in the future.
I vowed years ago to never live on benefits, my mental health decided otherwise, I'm perfectly happy with what I receive, and have never asked for more........but there again, I know how to manage my money. 10 years ago, I had nothing except a suitcase full of clothes, some of which I've still got, but I've managed to get by without going into debt.....I don't smoke or drink either.
I only criticise the individuals that say they don't get enough money in benefits, because I know they're waffling.Dilligaf2010

How do you "know" that all people like this are waffling? Maybe, like you, they have had a breakdown in the past or some other disaster, which left them relying on (possibly inadequate) benefits.

I don't see how you can generalise so sweepingly without actually knowing all the circumstances of particular people. You receive charity to help you with a difficult situation, but you show no charity towards any one of the thousands (millions?) of people who may be in similar situations.

Why are you so determined to condemn so many people, with so little evidence?

Dilligaf,
How do you "know" that all people like this are waffling? Maybe, like you, they have had a breakdown in the past or some other disaster, which left them relying on (possibly inadequate) benefits.
I don't see how you can generalise so sweepingly without actually knowing all the circumstances of particular people. You receive charity to help you with a difficult situation, but you show no charity towards any one of the thousands (millions?) of people who may be in similar situations.
Why are you so determined to condemn so many people, with so little evidence?Oxonian